Lacing device for corsets



(No Model.)

T.'P.TAYLOR..

LAGING DEVIGE'FOR GORSETS.

' Patented Dec. 21, 1886'.

6.9.dM W

N PETERS, Pholo-Lllhognphcl, Washiuglon. D. c.

NITED STATES THOMAS P. TAYLOR, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

LAClNG \DEVICE FOR COR'SETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,668, dated December 21, 1886.

I I Application filed Srpteurber 27,1886. Serial No. 214,619. (No model.) v

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the manufacture of corsets, and has for its object to simplify and cheapen and at the same time to improve the modeof lacing.

In Letters Patent No. 3i7,449,dated August 17, 1886, the back stays of the corset areshown as provided with eyes which project inward from the edges thereof, the eyes being rigidly attached to the stays, which lie in pockets at the edges of the corset.

In certain classes of corsets it is desirable that the back edges should be strengthened and stiffened by the usual'bone, wires, or stays, but at the same time that a certaifi amount of flexibility should be obtained, which is not possible where the lacing-eyes are made integral with or rigidly attached to the stays. I have therefore devised a construction in which all the lacing-eyes upon each back section of the corset are formed from a continuous strip of wire, said strip being secured to the corset edge in such amanner as to permit movement of the series of eyes independently of the stay or of the corset edge-that is to say, the series of eyes is formed integral and is free to turn in its fastenings.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 are elevations representing the back edge of a corset, and illustrating different modes in which I have carried my invention into effect. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 represent strips of wire detached, there being slight modifications in the formation of the eyes in each figure. Fig. 8

is a cross-section of the form illustrated in Fig. 1, and Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the form illustrated in Fig. 2.

1 denotes plies of textile material of which the corset is formed; 2, bone-pockets, any number of which may be formed by lines of stitching 3; and 4 denotes back stays or bone wires of any suitable construction or material, which are placed in said pockets.

5 denotes a series of lacing-eyes, the entire series for each half-corset beingv formed from a single continuous strip of wire. It will of course be understood that the shape and size of the eyesand the mode of attachment to the corset may be varied to an almost unlimited extent without departing fromthe spirit of my invention, the gist of which lies in making the eyes in continuous strips, in so attaching them to the corset that they project beyond the edge thereof, and each series of eyes has lateral movement independently of the back stay. I

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8 the edge is formed by folding over the textile material, and a stay, 4, and strip 5 of eyes are placed in the pocket nearest the edge, openings 6 in the textile material being made at the edge for the eyes to pass through. In this form the eyes are made by bending the wire outward from the straight portion, coiling it oncearound, then bringing it into the line of thestraightportion,andcontinuingthestraight portion as before, the inner edge of the coil being approximately in the line of the straight portion. By forming the eyes in this manner I am enabled to provide that the outer edges of the coils, which form the bearingsurface for the lacing-cord, shall be double, while at the inner edge of the coil there is but asingle'strand of wire, thus avoiding all clumsiness and leaving the strip free to turn. The strip is held securely in place by a line of stitching, 7, placed between the straight portion of the strip of wire and the back stay.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9 the straight portions of the strip are in line with the central portion or approximately the central portion of the eyes, the inner half of the eyes being single and the outer half double, as in the other form, to provide greater bearing surface for the lacing-cord. In this form the series of eyes is held in position by strips 8, of tape, cloth, or leather,which pass around the straight portions of the wire and are held between the double plies of textile material forming the corset edge by the outer-line of stitching, 3. Aline of stitching, 7, holds the series of eyes in place, as in the form shown in Fig. 1.

The form shown in Fig. 3 is substantially 5 like that in Fig. 1, except that the line of stitching 7 is dispensed with and the series of eyes is secured to the back stay by wrapping the straight portion with fine wire 9, which holds the series of eyes firmly to the stay, but at the same time permits it to turn independently thereof.

The form illustrated in Fig. 4 is the same as that in Fig. 3, except that the back stay, the series or strip of eyes, and the securing-wire 9 are wrapped with a layer, 10, of paper or textile material.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have illustrated other forms of eyes made from. a continuous strip of wire, in which the bearing-surface for the lacing-eye consists of a single strand only of wire. Theforms, however, in which the bearing-surface is doubled are deemed preferable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination, with the back sections of a corset and bone wires secured within said sections, of continuous integral series of lacingeyes, also secured within said sections, which project outward beyond the edges of the corset, but are left free to turnindependently of 0 2. The combination, with the back sections I of a corset and stays or bone wires stitched therein, of continuous series of lacing-eyes which project outward beyond the edges of corset, and means (for example, wrappings 9) whereby the series of eyes are secured within said back sections, but are left free to turn independently of the stays, as andfor the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the back sections of a corset and stays or bone wires stitched therein, of continuous series of lacing eyes, formed double at the portion constituting the bearing-surface for the lacing-cord and projecting outward beyond the edges of the corset, and means (for example,wrappings 9) whereby the series of eyes are secured to the stays, but are left free to turn independently thereof within the edges of the corset.

In testimony whereofI afiix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS P. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

A. M. Woos'rER, C. E. RUGGLES. 

